For 12 summers, GetUp Stage Company has been a home to incredible young performers from around the state. Our actors are students who strive for professional, exciting experiences that include participating in ground-breaking musicals, expert masterclasses, and--above all else--FUN!
When Covid turned our world upside down, we didn't know if there would be a show at all. But, when the time came, a decision was made, and an EXPERT group of young people came together to present A CHORUS LINE. Hopeful that an indoor performance would be possible by August, the group rehearsed in the heart of New Britain, in a parking lot, in the sweltering heat. They endured the noise of the city streets, the unpredictable weather, and the fear of being shut down due to Covid restrictions.
When it was clear that a live audience inside the theater would not be feasible, we had to scramble for a new location. Despite the odds, GUSCO was able to secure an outdoor space within two weeks of opening night and the group of performers stunned the audience with their singing, dancing and storytelling.
To say it was a journey is an understatement.
With 2020 behind us, we are now looking forward to presenting RENT to commemorate the groundbreaking production's 25th Anniversary -- and to celebrate where GUSCO began...performing RENT: School Edition in a little church in Bristol back in 2010! We can't think of a better way to make a comeback to the space we love with a live audience in the gorgeous theater at Trinity-on-Main.
Last summer was one for the books...and...some of those books are now in the red!! Renting the new location, and the added fees of bringing sound and lighting equipment to the outdoor shell (and to have to load in and out for every rehearsal and performance!) truly placed GUSCO in a precarious financial situation--so much so that without the help of an gracious private donation, our show may not have been able to happen.
GUSCO is a tuition-based program but we strive to use the previous summer's ticket profit to keep the per-participant fee to a minimum. This year, that does not seem plausible and our cast members' fee may be significantly higher than in years past.
Your contribution to this campaign will help us to maintain our status of being a competitive camp-style teen theater company who's participant price tag is far less than its local competitors--some of which cost $400-$600!
Money raised will help cover the costs of renting our beloved theater again to help bring some normalcy back to these students and to bring some live, in-person theater (IN AN ACTUAL THEATER!!) back to you, our supporters! With your help, our young people can get back on stage to do what they love without the burden of having to cover costs that make up for last year's challenges.
Will you help us?
